Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2021 to Question 137959, how many and what proportion of school age children living in initial asylum hotel accommodation have lived in hotel accommodation for over three months; and how many of those children are enrolled in local schools.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We do not publish data on length of time spent in Initial Accommodation.
We do not hold information about children enrolled in local schools.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2021 to Question 137958 and with reference to in-person reporting of migrants to immigration reporting centres during the covid-19 lockdown, if she will publish her Department's (a) risk assessment undertaken as part of that decision and (b) assessment of the potential merits of continuing in-person reporting during the covid-19 lockdown.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
On Tuesday 17 March 2020, following Public Health and Government guidance relating to COVID19 and the developing situation, we paused immigration reporting and sent an SMS text message to reportees with a valid mobile telephone number on our systems informing them of this.
On Tuesday 24 March we maintained the decision to close reporting centres and police reporting temporarily following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation. This was because we were not confident that we could practice safe social distancing and operate within a COVID secure environment.
Immigration Enforcement recommenced face to face reporting in July and August for limited, priority cohorts of people. We have implemented Safe Systems of Working (SSOW) and Risk Assessments in all our Reporting Centres where we have put in place robust social distancing measures; health screening questions are asked as a person enters; face masks are offered to those who have travelled without them; and one-way systems and sanitiser stations are placed throughout our buildings. We continue to review our current reporting arrangements in line with any new local and national COVID restrictions that are put in place.
Following the announcement on Monday 4 January 2021 we decided to maintain face to face reporting for priority cohorts of people. Our robust Safe Systems of Working and Risk Assessments remain in place and still adhere to current Government guidance. Those that are required to report at this time are covered for movement under The Health Protection Regulations 2020 where movement is permitted for the purpose of fulfilling a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;
We continue to keep in contact with the overall reporting population by telephone to update individuals on the current reporting position. An SMS text or email/letter is sent to those required to recommence reporting informing them of the date and time they should report, along with relevant advice on COVID. We have also updated the reporting pages on GOV.UK for those who report and their representatives. This information includes how to travel most safely by public transport, avoiding both busy transport hubs and traveling at peak times; advice on reporting alone where possible; and what to do if those reporting have symptoms or are shielding and how to contact their local reporting centre.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2021 to Question 137958 on in-person reporting of migrants to immigration reporting centres during the covid-19 lockdown, on what basis his Department made a different decision to that made on 24 March 2020 to close reporting centres following the announcement of the covid-19 lockdown in March 2020.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
On Tuesday 17 March 2020, following Public Health and Government guidance relating to COVID19 and the developing situation, we paused immigration reporting and sent an SMS text message to reportees with a valid mobile telephone number on our systems informing them of this.
On Tuesday 24 March we maintained the decision to close reporting centres and police reporting temporarily following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation. This was because we were not confident that we could practice safe social distancing and operate within a COVID secure environment.
Immigration Enforcement recommenced face to face reporting in July and August for limited, priority cohorts of people. We have implemented Safe Systems of Working (SSOW) and Risk Assessments in all our Reporting Centres where we have put in place robust social distancing measures; health screening questions are asked as a person enters; face masks are offered to those who have travelled without them; and one-way systems and sanitiser stations are placed throughout our buildings. We continue to review our current reporting arrangements in line with any new local and national COVID restrictions that are put in place.
Following the announcement on Monday 4 January 2021 we decided to maintain face to face reporting for priority cohorts of people. Our robust Safe Systems of Working and Risk Assessments remain in place and still adhere to current Government guidance. Those that are required to report at this time are covered for movement under The Health Protection Regulations 2020 where movement is permitted for the purpose of fulfilling a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;
We continue to keep in contact with the overall reporting population by telephone to update individuals on the current reporting position. An SMS text or email/letter is sent to those required to recommence reporting informing them of the date and time they should report, along with relevant advice on COVID. We have also updated the reporting pages on GOV.UK for those who report and their representatives. This information includes how to travel most safely by public transport, avoiding both busy transport hubs and traveling at peak times; advice on reporting alone where possible; and what to do if those reporting have symptoms or are shielding and how to contact their local reporting centre.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will suspend the in-person reporting of migrants to immigration reporting centres for the duration of the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
On Tuesday 17 March 2020, following Public Health and Government guidance relating to COVID19 and the developing situation, we paused immigration reporting and sent an SMS text message to reportees with a valid mobile telephone number on our systems informing them of this.
On Tuesday 24 March we maintained the decision to close reporting centres and police reporting temporarily following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation. This was because we were not confident that we could practice safe social distancing and operate within a COVID secure environment.
Immigration Enforcement recommenced face to face reporting in July and August for limited, priority cohorts of people. We have implemented Safe Systems of Working (SSOW) and Risk Assessments in all our Reporting Centres where we have put in place robust social distancing measures; health screening questions are asked as a person enters; face masks are offered to those who have travelled without them; and one-way systems and sanitiser stations are placed throughout our buildings. We continue to review our current reporting arrangements in line with any new local and national COVID restrictions that are put in place.
Following the announcement on Monday 4 January 2021 we decided to maintain face to face reporting for priority cohorts of people. Our robust Safe Systems of Working and Risk Assessments remain in place and still adhere to current Government guidance. Those that are required to report at this time are covered for movement under The Health Protection Regulations 2020 where movement is permitted for the purpose of fulfilling a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;
We continue to keep in contact with the overall reporting population by telephone to update individuals on the current reporting position. An SMS text or email/letter is sent to those required to recommence reporting informing them of the date and time they should report, along with relevant advice on COVID. We have also updated the reporting pages on GOV.UK for those who report and their representatives. This information includes how to travel most safely by public transport, avoiding both busy transport hubs and traveling at peak times; advice on reporting alone where possible; and what to do if those reporting have symptoms or are shielding and how to contact their local reporting centre.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that all school age children in initial asylum hotel accommodation have access to adequate (a) space, (b) internet connections and (c) other equipment to continue with online learning during the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is our aim to move asylum-seeking families with school-age children to suitable dispersed accommodation as quickly as possible. Due to the temporary nature of accommodating families in hotels, it is unlikely that children will have been enrolled in a local school before being moved to dispersal accommodation.
However, in our wider accommodation estate, the Home Office and its providers are taking the steps to ensure that children are able to access education as quickly as possible, including liaising with local authorities to source and provide educational activity packs and securing tablets and Wi-Fi to ensure that service users are able to access online resources.
Wi-Fi is also available throughout hotels and data SIM cards are provided in core initial accommodation where needed.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what most recent estimate she has made of the timescale for moving asylum seekers in Bristol from the hotel accommodation to which they were transferred back to appropriate accommodation.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The current global pandemic has presented us with significant challenges when it comes to the provision of asylum accommodation, including sourcing sufficient suitable accommodation to meet demand.
The use of hotels and wider government facilities are a short-term measure and we are working to move people to longer-term dispersal accommodation as soon as it becomes available.
Our accommodation providers are working with Local Authorities across the UK to identify additional dispersal accommodation as part of their recovery plans.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether young people from EU countries will be allowed to continue to pursue unpaid short-term work placements in the UK without a work permit after the transition period.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Free Movement will end on 31 December 2020 with the end of the Transition Period. Following the end of the Transition Period EEA and Swiss nationals will be able to continue to travel to the UK for holidays or short-term trips, without needing a visa.
We have set out plans to introduce a future points-based immigration system, which together with our generous list of Permitted Paid Engagements and Activities within the visitor route, will provide a route for workers within the Charity sector to undertake voluntary work within the Tier 5 route.
We have also indicated our desire to negotiate a youth mobility arrangement with the EU, or with individual countries within it, if a collective agreement is not possible. This may also provide a viable route for EU nationals to come to the UK to work on a voluntary basis.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2020 to Question 110853, on the rapid review of initial accommodation for asylum seekers, if (a) all information and data collected on asylum seekers is treated as confidential and will be anonymised before handed to the Home Office, and (b) participants are given access to legal advice and representation throughout the process.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is reviewing the recommendations of the rapid review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations. We will also hold round tables with stakeholders to discuss the recommendations, actions taken and proposed next steps.
Asylum seekers’ views were sought as part of the review process. Participation was entirely voluntary and confidential. These views fed into the overall findings and recommendations. No identifying or confidential information was shared with the Home Office.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2020 to Question 110853 on the internal review on initial accommodation for asylum seekers, if her Department will publish (a) the report in full, (b) the date at the end of the month when the summary of recommendations will be publicly available, and (c) the sites chosen for the review.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office is reviewing the recommendations of the rapid review and, as previously stated, will seek to publish a summary of the recommendations. We will also hold round tables with stakeholders to discuss the recommendations, actions taken and proposed next steps.
Asylum seekers’ views were sought as part of the review process. Participation was entirely voluntary and confidential. These views fed into the overall findings and recommendations. No identifying or confidential information was shared with the Home Office.
Asked by: Thangam Debbonaire (Labour - Bristol West)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect of changes to immigration rules after the transition period on the number of businesses going into liquidation; and what support his Department plans to make available to prevent businesses going into liquidation after the transition period.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government is introducing a new global points-based immigration system which works in the interests of the whole of our United Kingdom.
We recognise this will mean a change for some businesses, which is why we have continued to support them through extensive communications and engagement to build awareness and promote understanding.
In April, the Government published an Impact Assessment to accompany what is now the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 which considers the expected impact of the future immigration system.
We will continue to review and assess the operation of the new system and the experiences of users.